Dear Relief Association,
On behalf of my mother Grace and my entire family, I would like to thank you for all you have done to help us. From the first phone call the day after my father’s death, through paper work, and the funeral service, everyone has been wonderful. All phone calls were answered or returned promptly. Everyone was so gracious with their expressions of sympathy. The day of the funeral the flowers were beautiful, the bag piper incredible, and the flag a moving and unexpected tribute to my dad.
Peter Pleick loved the Los Angeles Fire Department! I never heard him complain about any assignment, and the only times I saw him take a day away from work were the two times he was injured on the job. Although it was an incredibly dangerous job, he never brought that stress home. He knew that the Relief Association and the LAFD family would be there for us, and you absolutely have been.
Sincerely,
Toni Pleick Ware
Artesia, CA
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Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Assn.
There are many things to thank you for. First the wheelchair you provided for Burdette (Bud) Creath for two years. The beautiful plant you sent. The wonderful flag presented to me at Bud’s memorial. All the help we received when we called the Relief Assn. We spoke to Jim Dolan, who was so helpful, taking care of notifying the various departments. Please accept this donation in honor of my husband Bud Creath. I am so grateful for all your help and to all those from the fire department that attended his memorial.
Sincerely,
Mary Lynne Creath
Woodland Hills, CA
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Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
In memory of Peter Pleick, a close friend throughout our fire department service. We met when we were both assigned in and out of Fire Station 22 with Frank Brown, Chrisman, Gary Cramer, Don Hickman, Frank Jure, Howard Metz, Les Reynolds plus many others whose names I don’t remember. We had fires of all sizes, in all types of occupancies, and at all times of the day and night, and in between false fire alarm boxes. The friendships and spirit were high among all assigned members, which extended to our families. Those times will live with me forever.
Tony Giordano
Malibu, CA
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Hello!
I hosted the McDaniel Scramble in Las Vegas for the third year now and am happy to say it was our best year yet. We played two different courses and enjoyed all Las Vegas had to offer in between rounds. We had a great crew and a good, competitive tournament. Enclosed is a check for $1,100 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. I really appreciate what you do and hopefully this can help someone’s family in need. Until next year.
Cheers,
Cory McDaniel
Fire Station 55-B
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Dear L.A.F.R.A. Members,
Please accept this donation for the WODFF in memory of Lars Nelson. My regards to his family.
Lars was an outstanding firefighter and a pleasure to work with. We shared some time at FS 29 and just doing “his share” of housework or at a fire was never enough. Lars always went the extra mile or “executed that extra touch.”
Thank you all you R.A. persons for all you do for the membership.
Jack Van Eaton
Bothell, WA
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Dear Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund:
Please accept this donation in memory of Burton (Burt) M. Hosterman, who passed away in March, Burdette (Bud) Creath, who passed away in April, and Duane White, who passed away in April.
Burt and Bud were both engineers at Fire Station 11 during the same time period that I was an A/O at Fire Station 29. Although I was never assigned to 11’s, I did work a lot of SOD there. I remember both of them well. They had both been there for some time and 11’s was a very busy assignment then, as I’m sure it still is. I can never remember either one ever complaining, and both did a “class one’ job.
Duane White was an A/O and my “B” shift relief for some time at “old 29’s.” I can’t remember who the “B” shift captain was at the time, but it may have been Wallace Dugan or John Kirkorn, or possibly both. 29’s was also a busy place in those days, and the “creature comforts” were in short supply. But it was one of, if not the best assignment I ever had, and Duane was part of the reason.
Richard Watters, LAFD retired
Agoura Hills, CA
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To L.A. Firemen’s Relief Assn:
Please accept this donation to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. This is in memory of my husband John E. Kemper and my son Lane A. Kemper. Thank you all the good you do when the need is there.
Sincerely,
Beryl Kemper
Deer Park, WA
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WODFF
Enclosed is a check in memory of John S. Holloway, who was known as Sparkie to all that worked with him. I was one of his reliefs at OCD from 1990 until we retired in 2008. A good man and good officer who knew his job and did it in a professional manner. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Thank you,
Robert L. Kilpatrick
Simi Valley, CA
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Dear Andy,
Thank you for the beautiful flower arrangement. The bag pipe music and the flag presentation were a wonderful tribute to our mother. These memories we will cherish forever. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will always be remembered.
Sincerely,
Betty Rea & Mary Henderson
San Pedro, CA
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Dear LAFRA,
Everyone who worked with Sparkie [John Holloway] knows what a great person he was. He and I first met at FS27. He was my tillerman and always very helpful with the rig and was fun to have around the station. We had a chance to work together at Arson when I was assigned there as a captain. Sparkie was a great investigator who was liked and respected by everybody. I’m going to miss seeing him at retirement dinners and exchanging stories about “the old days.” My condolences to Carol, his children and grandchildren.
Mike Littleton
Westlake Village, CA
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LA Firemen’s Relief Association:
Capt. Jack [Fitzgerald] was my third house TFC at old 2’s. Just a great captain and wonderful human being. He was a captain that you admired and would go into any burning building with. Always fair and great with all his crew. Spent 10 years at 2’s working with him. Sure liked his handball games and the good cooking of John Chavez. RIP Capt. Jack.
Tod Geer
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Relief Association:
I met Ed Fox in the early 60’s when Truck 89 was placed in service. He was a great engineer and fun to work with. I recall a brush fire in Brown Canyon when the truck members staffed E 289 and Ed was our engineer. E-289 was an old Kenworth triple with no power steering and Ed was worn out after driving in all the hills we worked in that night.
I also had the opportunity to have his son in the drill tower while I was assigned as an instructor. He never let on his dad was the engineer assigned “up front” at Station 89 while he was going through the tower.
I am happy to see Ed had a long retirement after a job well done.
Robert Mac Millan
Lake Havasu City, AZ